Printing press drive



E. w. SEEGER PRINTING PRESS DRIVE March 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2'7. 1950 r INVENTOR. [aha/z W Jagger BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 PRINTING PRESS DRIVE Edwin W. Seeger, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 27, 1950, Serial No. 158,366

9 Claims.

This invention relates to drives for printing presses.

More particularly, this invention relates to an improved drive for printing presses of the unit type which have an individual motor for each printing unit, and preferably also for each folder, for driving the press at normal operating speeds, and which require one or more separate motors for driving the press at slow or inching speed. In presses of this type it is usually necessary to connect the individual units together mechanically, such as by shafting, to insure that the units run in synchronism to maintain proper register between the plates. In presses having an inching motor connected with each unit main motor, or having a slow speed winding in each main motor, the equalizing shafting connecting the units is ordinarily of light construction because it is not required to carry any of the starting or driving torque. However, in those presses which use a single inching motor to provide slow speed operation for a plurality of units, the shafting connecting the individual units has been relatively heavy because it has been required to carry the full starting and driving torque. The disadvantage of the first-mentioned type of press drive is the necessity of providing a large number of additional motors which are only needed for occasional operation, or the necessity of using expensive two-speed motors. A disadvantage of the second type of drive has been the necessity of connecting the units with the heavy shafting required to carry full load torque, and also the necessity of providing an inching motor having a very high starting torque. More important, both types of press drive have a limited flexibility attendant their starting, stopping and inching operations.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unit printing press drive having a high degree of flexibility in its starting, stopping and inching operations. 7

Another object is to provide a press drive having a single inching motor for operating a large number of units at slow speed and which permits the use of relatively light shafting between the individual units.

A more specific object is to provide a novel press drive which will permit the use of a standard instead of a high torque inching motor.

Another object is to provide in a printing press drive a simple and reliable inching mechanism which will easily permit changing the position of the inching motor relative to the press for maximum conveniencein all installations.

Another object is to provide a novel press drive which will permit the use of a much smaller inching motor than has heretofore been possible for presses with similar load requirements.

A further object is to provide a press drive in which the inching means may be readily connected and disconnected from the main driving means and in which the inching means can be used to assist and control the speed of the main motors at low speeds and to provide additional braking torque for quick stopping.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows schematically two printing presses comprising a plurality of printing units and folders having individualized single motor drives, and also shows my novel form of inching drive connected to the presses.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram for a control circuit for a press drive incorporating my invention.

Fig. 3 shows in a well known manner the relationship of the energizing coils and the corresponding contacts of the electromagnetic relays employed in the control circuit illustrated by Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l, the printing presses shown thereby each comprises printing units P P P P and a folder F or F Folder F and the printing units preceding it constitute press No. I. Folder F and the printing units next preceding it constitute press No. II. (For convenience in illustration, two of the printing units of press II, and their attendant drive mechanisms, are not shown.) The printing units of each press have single main motor drives M M M and M individualized thereto, while the folders have individualized thereto single main motor drives MF and MW. The motors are axially alined and are adapted to be mechanically connected through a common shaft 10 comprising a plurality of sections and couplings therefor. As is customary, the printing units and the folders are individually connected to sections of shaft [0 through bevel gear sets ll. Couplings i2 are interposed in shaft H] for the purpose of isolating a unit or units in a well known manner.

The motors M and MF' preferably are alike, and preferably are of the polyphase induction U type. Each of these motors is provided with a speed regulator 2:], as shown in connection with motors M and MP The speed regulators preferably are alike and are adapted to be driven by one or more pilot motors it through connecting shaft 22. This connecting shaft may be made in sections and provided with couplings 23 so as to enable the speed regulators to be grouped in accordance with the groupings of the press units and folders of the press. Electroresponsive triple pole switches 35 and 45 are provided for motors M and MFR respectively, for the pur pose of connecting them to power lines U, L and L Similar switches and connections are provided for the other printing unit and folder motors. This applies whether a press and its associated speed regulators be set up as a single unit, or whether a plurality of presses be connected, as shown in Fig. 1.

For inching one or both presses, i. e., turning them over slowly, and for other purposes, I provide an inching motor MI which is of a relatively low horsepower. Because of my novel manner of connecting motor MI to the press or presses, this motor may be and preferably is a high speed standard torque instead of the high torque type required in prior press drives. Motor MI is connected to shaft iii by means of electromagnetic clutches 13, reduction drives M, shaft l5, and reduction drive 16.

Electromagnetic clutches i3 are preferably connected to shaft ill at a point between the folder and its respective group of printing units. The particular form of magnetic clutch is is immaterial, it being only required that there be an outer members l3 adapted for driving by motor MI, that said member be freely rotatable with respect to shaft ill, and adapted, upon energization of clutch coil H, to frictionally engage said shaft or an intermediate memberkeyed thereto. Connected with members w are reduction drives M which are in turn connected with shaft i5. Reduction drive it connects-shaft I5 with inching motor MI. Although the reduction drives Hi and iii are illustrated in 1 as being of the gear type, they obviously could also be of the chain or multiple V-belt types. l'heir respective ratios will depend upon the synchronous speed of inching motor MI and the desired inching speed of the press. comes apparent that power may be transmitted from'motor ME to the press, and vice versa, merely by energizing clutch coil H which energlzation causes electromagnetic clutches 13 to engage to complete the mechanical connection between the inching motor and shaft it. An electroresponsive triple-pole switch is provided for selectively connecting inching motor MI to the power supply.

For convenience of illustration, the control circuit, Figs. 2 and 3, is shown as being for a press having onlya single printing unit, it being a simple matter for those skilled in the art to provide for the motors of additional printing units.

Briefly set forth, Figs. 2 and 3 show the electro magnetic clutch i3 of Fig. 1 together with its operating coil It, the pilot motor 24 and its control tracks 2M, and the switches 2 and 45, all as shown in Fig. l. The pilot motor 2! is shown as having two field windings f and f to be energized selectively for reverse operation of said motor, which as will be understood from the showing of Fig. 1, effects reverse operations of speed regulators 2B. Switches '25, 35 and It thus beare shown as having operating windings 25 35 and Mi respectively. In addition to control push buttons 25, 21, 3|, 3?, 39 and 4!, relays 24, 25, 38, 43 and 42 are also shown together with their respective windings and cooperating contacts. Switch 32 is provided for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

While the control circuit shown would ordinarily be supplemented in various respects, including provision of signaling means, means to effect step by step operation of the speed regulators, etc., the showing will suffice to afford an understanding of the control of my press drive hereinbefore described, it being borne in mind that the circuit is equally effective in control of a plurality of printing units and/or folders and of a single drive or of a plurality of drives grouped together, as shown in Fig. 1.

Pressing the Start button 21 energizes winding 25 by placing it across L and L and in addition to maintaining itself by closing contacts 25 winding 25 also effects closing of switch 25 which energizes motor MI. This runs inching shaft !5 and the freely rotating members l3 of electromagnetic clutches l3. Energization of winding 25 also effects closing of contacts 25?, and with these contacts closed the presses may be inched or jogged. Pressing the Inch button 3i connects winding 38* across L and U to effect energization of said winding and closing of contacts 38. Upon ciosing of contacts 30 clutch coil if is connected for energization across L and L by a circuit which includes rectifier Energisation of clutch coil l'l effects engagement of clutch 13 whereby press drive shaft is is mechanically connected to inching shaft l5 and the press will run at inching speed as long as button 31 is held depressed.

To run the press continuously at inching or slow speed, it is necessary to depress the Run push button 31 which places relay winding 38 across L and L for energization. Operation'of relay 38 effects closing of contacts 38 by which energization of said relay is maintained, also of contacts 38 whicheffect energization of clutch relay 30 by a circuit through contacts 38 and normally closed contacts 24, said relay 30 consequently effecting energization of clutch l3. Energization of winding 38 also effects closing of contacts 38, which closing permits the press to be run at higher speeds. Thereupon, pressing of Increase button 39 completes a circuit across L and L throughrelay winding 40*, energization of which effects closing of contacts 40*, this in turn effecting energization of the pilot motor inclusive of field winding for driving said motor in the increase direction. As the crossheads of speed regulators 20 move in the increase direction, the cross-head portion coacting with control tracks 2 l also moves, and at a selected point bridges said tracks to connect Winding 2'1 across L and L Energization of relay 24 closes contacts 24 which in turn cause closing of main motor switches 3'5 and 45 by closing the energizing circuits of their operating windings 35 and 45 Operationof relay-llalso effects opening of normally closed contacts 24 which interrupts the circuit through clutch relay winding 30 and causes opening of contacts 30 to interrupt the clutch energizing coil-so that the clutch members will disengage to permit at:- coloration of the pressto printing speeds as resistance is removed from their secondary circuits. To decrease; the; press .speed. it -.is merely necessary to depress the Decrease button 4l which connects relay winding 42 in circuit across L and L whereupon contacts 42 are closed to effect energization of pilot motor inclusive of field winding f and cause speed regulators to be moved in the decrease direction.

The press may be stopped at any time by depressing Stop button 26. Depression of this button interrupts the maintaining circuit of winding whereupon contacts 25 are opened to interrupt the power circuit to motor MI, and contacts 25 are opened to interrupt the remainder of the maintaining circuits.

With the above-described control scheme it will be observed that the motor MI is always started before the clutches l3 are engaged. Thus it is apparent that motor MI does not have to be of the high-torque type because it does not have to start under load as do the inching motors of the aforementioned prior art press drives. The normal cycle of operation would be to first start the inching motor MI and, after it has come up to speed, to then energize one or both of clutches [3 to connect one or both of the presses for inching or slow speed operation. While the press drive shaft I0 is rotating at slow speed, the main motors M and MF are then energized and the clutches l3 deenergized so that the press may come up to normal operating speeds.

To effect a modification of the aforedescribed control scheme and a change in the operating characteristics of the press drive, switch 32 is closed so as to make switches 35 and 45 subject to the control of contacts as well as contacts 38 and 24. Hence, when the Inch button 3| is depressed to energize relay 30 for effecting engagement of the clutches I3, closing of contacts 30 by the same relay will operate to complete a circuit from L through windings and to L and effect closing of main motor switches 35 and 45. With this arrangement both the main motors and the inching motor are used for inching the press. The control could then be so arranged that the inching motor alone would not have sufficient torque to start the press without the aid of the main motors. Since a part of the starting torque would be obtained from the main motors which are located at each unit, the starting torque would be distributed along the press shaft, permitting use of a smaller shaft than would otherwise be possible.

To run the press continuously at slow speed with switch 32 closed, the Run button 31 is depressed the same as before. In this case, however, the main motors will also be energized. The speed and torque of the main motors M and MF are limited only by secondary resistance. Hence, should the press tend to run above the speed determined by the inching motor MI, said motor will be operated above synchronous speed and will act as an induction generator to maintain a slow threading speed on the press. When the press is accelerated to printing speeds, the press drive shaft III will be disconnected from the inching shaft l5 as soon as relay 24 is energized to effect disengagement of the clutches l3, as aforedescribed.

With either arrangement the magnetic clutch- Y es I3 could also be used to obtain braking torque for stopping the press. Although the circuit connections are not shown, it would merely be necessary to energize relay 30 during the stopping period. The clutches l3 would then be engaged and the press would try to drive the inching motor MI above synchronous speed while the press was stopping. Slipping would be obtained between the relatively movable members of the clutch, which, of course, provides the braking torque.

Whereas the term electromagnetic clutch has been used throughout the description in reference to clutch l3, it is to be understood that by this term I mean any form of remotely controlled power-operated clutch, electric, pneumatic, or otherwise.

I claim:

1. A drive for effecting slow speed operation of a plurality of printing presses comprising, a motor, a shaft rotatable by said motor, a plurality of sets of driving connections between said shaft andsaid presses, said sets of driving connections each including a remotely controllable power operated clutch for selectively or collectively connecting said presses to said shaft, and control means for said clutches for affording them remote control for the action aforesaid and for disconnecting said shaft from the presses when certain operating conditions are desired. 2. A slow speed drive for a printing press having a plurality of main motors for driving individually different press parts and further having a plurality of shafts interconnecting the main motors in separate groups, said slow speed drive comprising a high speed standard torque motor, an inching shaft connected for rotation by said latter motor, individual remotely controllable power operated clutches arranged for driving engagement with each of said first-mentioned shafts, reduction driving connections between said clutches and said inching shaft, and electric control means for said slow speed drive, said control means including means for effecting energization of said high speed standard torque motor before energization of either of said clutches.

3. The combination with a printing press drive comprising a plurality of main motors for driving individually different press parts at normal speeds and further comprising a plurality of shafts interconnecting the main motors in separate groups, of slow speed operating means for said drive comprising an inching motor for driving said parts at slow speeds, driving connections between the latter motor and said shafts, said driving connections each including a remotely controllable power operated clutch for selectively or collectively connecting said shafts to said inching motor, and means for energizing said clutches while said main motors are running whereby the regenerative action of said inching motor may be used to maintain a constant inching speed when said main motors are used to supplement the inching motor for slow speed operation.

4. The combination with a printing press drive having a plurality of main motors each for a different press part and having means releasably locking together the rotating shafts of said motors, of an auxiliary motor having no direct connection with the press but having an operative connection with at least one main motor shaft and said operative connection including a clutch, and a controller for said motor and said clutch for starting said auxiliary motor with said clutch disengaged and for subsequently effecting engagement of said clutch, said controller including means for effecting energization of said main motors along with engagement of said clutch thus to divide the starting load between said main and auxiliary motors.

5. The combination with a printing press drive having a plurality of main motors each for a dif-- 7 ferent press part and having means releasably locking together the rotating shafts of said motors, of an auxiliary motor having no direct connection with the press but having an operative connection with at least one main motor shaft and said operative connection including a clutch, and a controller for said motor and said clutch for starting said auxiliary motor with said clutch disengaged and then engaging said clutch with said auxiliary motor in operation, said controller including means for effecting operation of said main motors and disengagement of said'clutch thus to render continued drive of the press dependent upon said main motors.

-6. The combination with a printing press drive having a plurality of main motors each for a different press part and having means releasably locking together the rotating shafts of said motors, of an auxiliary motor having no direct connection with the press but having an operative connection with at least one main motor shaft and said operative connection including a clutch, and a controller for said motor and said clutch providing for operation of said main and auxiliary motors and engagement of said clutch in starting the press to divide the starting load between said main and auxiliary motors.

7. The combination with a printing press drive having a plurality of main motors each for a different press part and having means releasably locking together the rotating shafts of said motors, said motors being subject to interlock by their shafts and said means to form at least two groups, of an auxiliary motor, a releasable driving connection between said auxiliary motor and the shaft of a main motor of one of said groups, and a separate releasable driving connection between said auxiliary motor and the shaft of a main motor of another of said groups.

8. The combination with a printing press drive having a plurality of main motors each for a different press part and having means releasably locking together the rotating shafts of said motors, said motors being subject to interlock by their shafts and said means to form at least two groups, of an auxiliary motor, a releasable drivi'ng connection between said auxiliary motor and the shaft of a main motor of one of said groups, and a separate releasable driving connection between said auxiliary motor and the shaft of a main motor of another of said groups, each of said separate driving connections for releasability thereof including a clutch enabling use of said small motor in braking the press. 1

9. The combination with a printing press drive having a plurality of main motors each for a different press part, said motors being arranged in axial alinement and having releasable interlocking means for their rotating shafts for different groupings of said motors, of an auxiliary motor, a shaft driven thereby and a plurality of sets of spaced and releasable driving connections between the last mentioned shaft and the shafts of certain of said main motors thus to afford each of a plurality of groups of said main motors an individual driving connection from said shaft driven by said auxiliary motor.

EDWIN W. SEEGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,857,818 McCleery s May 10, 1932 2,211,002 Cline Aug. 13, 1940 2,423,028 Horton et al. June 24, 1947 2,487,702 Goodwillie et al Nov. -8, 1-949 

